THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tlio World's a theatre; (ho Earth a stage.-lleywood.

(By Srtvius.)

Miss Elinor Foster. Miss Elinor Foster, tho clever English actress, who played Cl.iiro Forster m "The Woman in"the Case" at the Opera House last evening, has a fine record as an actress in leading roles with such wellknown stars as Oscar Asehe, Sir Herbert Ccerbohm Tree, E. F. Demon, 31ane. Tempest, and others whose names are known tho world oyer. All last year she was associated with the production of Sir Herbert Tree, appearing in "False Gods," "Beethoven," "The O'Flynn," •'Julius Caesar," and (on lour). "Trilby" and "The Man Who was." TrioT to that Miss Foster was a member of Mr. Oscar Ascho's and Miss Lily Brayton's English Company, and appeared with them for about "twoivo months, playing in "Othello," "The Taming of the Shrew," and other pieces of their repertoire that were so popular in Australia. At the Court Theatre, under the management of Messrs. Vedrennc and Barker, she appeared in the leading role in a cla-sie production translated by Professor Gilbert Murray, the role of llippelytus giving her full scope to show her versatility.

A tour.of Kir Herbert Tree's company with "The Eternal City," in which she appeared as Koma, was followed by ;•„ visit to America as leading lady in Frank Curzon's and James Iv. Hackott's production of "31 r. llopkinson" and "Public Opinion." In the former 31iss Foster created the role of Hie Duchess (represented in Australia by 3liss Grace Palotta), and in tho second play she appeared as Lady Hi.

In Shakespearean productions, 3Hss Foster, in addition to her experience with tlio Asche-Brayton Company, was for some time associated with 3lr. E. F. Benson, and went right through that wellknown Shakespearean exponent's lengthy repertoire. At a fortnight's notice 3liss Fester was engaged for the .Australian season of "The Woman in the Case"; but her previous association with his play in England obviated any uncertainty, as regards her role, with which she' was already thoroughly familiar. Miss Foster likes her part. "Claire Forster appeals to me," she says, "as the primeval woman in modern form. Her savage instinct, veneered and kept under control by the strength of her self-re-straint, bursts its bn-:d=, an; 1 , in that thrilling third act, no actress could wish for a bolter opportunity to indicate all the savagery that is in a" woman like this. Such parts are supposed to be unpopular with (he peon'e. I cannot seo why they should be. There is more dramatic material in the ro'o of Claire Forster than in a dozen of the 'p'oas.iut' characters that wind up at the end of the play with a happy ending."

"Inconstant Gcorna." A returned visitor to the Old Country informs me. tnat cno uf the liveliest and cicverest cocieures ot tite iigiit iarcic'il ortier Uac he saw in i.uaaun was "Jncunmaiit vrcorgo," a iransiaiiun lrcm tno irench by uiadys Unset, it is utiicioiisly i'rencn—no one coma iuivc conceived suelt ideas but a. i° recutita an, r.na certain;} - aw incidents euulu iir-t-cuy ee associated wit.i any otiier tn-aii thui-e- thar i'aricians.

bourse is a fool, a quaint, simple, iu\-arj-lorin» Parisian, whom ail women love, and ail wen iuc, wniisl considering mm a fool, lie iirts with tiio wuo of his friend Do Versannes, liirts with his niece, is loved by an actress, and is wooed by a pretty girl—a smart, whiiv.siea. iitt;o maid, wxo wins George and t'Ua hearts id an in the audience- by her pretty subtleties Mid frank artfulness.

In a burst of simple frankness George confidc-s to lwr that somehow or other two best books bore him, and, while he knut.s that they aio tho btst and greatest, he never reads'thorn.- Liltoirise, he avoias the optras, whicn he taws psrlc'etiy wen nro the grandest, and, in the same manner says.that lie can noier lovc.tso women whom ho re-.ip!i;ts or vice versa.

This creed astonishes and shocks the fiirl, but such is her infatuation that sho invents an "affair" which she had in the past in order to break down tho barrier to love. George is ai-jozed to hear her eoufcisicn. "You—you—who is the man?" "His photograph is in that bag," she replies. "That face—l know that face—an awful face—who is it? 1 demand his name!" says George cxcit;<lly. "It's George Bernard Shawl" she replies. Then, in an infinitely lender scene, nho tells Gjorgo how sho invented the whole story, and purchased the photo in a sliep su that he would not respect lier too much. The comedy has the sweetest- ending. Do Vcrsann-c-s, who is aware of George's flirtations with his wife and niece, visits him at midnight, and, after a delightfully humorous scene, throughout which Do Versannes is amiability ityelf, he gives George the option of marrying his (JJe Versannes'?) wife, or tho niece, and at the same time hands him an envelope with a note which contains the name of tho lady whom George will marry—tho came not to be owned until tho inconstant one lias definitely decided on his fate. So when George hears tho little girl's appealing story, and sees her fall asleep tired out with tho tragedies of the day. his heart goes out to her. He is looking for an envelope to enclose a note to her friends telling them that she missed tho last train, hut is quite safe, when ho comes across De Yersanuev'.s note. Raving decided who he is to rc-avry, lie is at liberty to open it, and doos so. "The lady whom you will marry is our little friend—(giving tho name).. Don't look such a fool!" Amazed and amused, he rises from the desk, places his coat oyer tho sleeping form of tho girl, puts De Veisannes's note betv.'CMi her ihigeTs, turns out the lights and leaves the room. As the electric lights are switched off. a shaft of moonlight shines through the window on to the face of the sleeping girl. —Curtain!

A Tour Postponed, Owing to tho great success which tho Plimmer-Dcnnkton Company has achieved in Sydney, tho New Zealand tour, which was to have commenced at luvercargill on Bating Night, has been' indefinitely postponed. Tho company has just completed e. seven weeks' Sanson at the- I'claco Theatre, Sydney, where the charming play, "Nobody's Daughter," ran for six weeks. A reason at Brisbane follows after which the company returns to Sydney, opening there on Christmas Evo in "Inconstant Georgo," a farcical comedy from the French, which was played in London by Mr. Charles Hawtrey with great success. Somerset Maughan's comedy, "Smith," will also be presented during the return season, which will extend over Eoven weeks. Tho dates which the Plimmcr-Denniston Company were to have filled have been disposed of to Mr. Brennan, vaudeville manager and tho head and front of Brennan's, Ltd.

"The Girl in the Train." J. C. 'Williamson, Ltd., will produce the latest of the girl series in musical comedy, entitled 'The Girl in'tho Train," at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, (.his evening. The now piec-o is from the German "Dio Greschienne Fran," to music by Dr. Loo Fall (composer of "The Dollar Princess"), and brings with it. a high reputation for humour and melody. Miss Florer,co Young will appear in the name-part (Gontla Van der Lee';, Miss Sybil Arundalo has returned for the part of the wife, Jana Van Huron; Sir. "W. Tolleur Andrews will be Karel Von Buron; Mr. Victor Frinco appears as Lucas Van Tro'inp; Mr. Jack Cannot as Cornelius Scrop; and Messrs. Charles, Albert, Frank Greene, Edmond Shcrras, Albert Neville. W. S. Percy, Miss Florence Vie, and Mis.s Vivian Tallcur aro also in the cast.

Nance O'Noil in the Ascsndant. Mis. William Desmond (wife of Mr. Win. Desmond, now playing in Sydney), after her lons tour of Australia, brings back with her to Sydney gcod news of her only sister. Miss Nance O'Noil. au American tragedienne, justly admired in this country. About Christmas, 1003, this actress made au immense success at the fashionable Slnyvc.-nnt Theatre, New York, in the French society drama. "The Lily," with Charlc:; Cartwright in the cast, and after a lens run. lnsliug until her usual holiday at Cairo and Paris, (he star resumed the role on tour in tin? United Slates, closing with another vacation a few months ago in the Yosemite Valley (Cal.).

Mrs. Desmond now forwards endings from the San Francisco papers, showing that Miss O'Ncil recommenced a new joar's work there at the end of August

by producing Sardou's tragic drama, "The Sorceress," original!v written for Sarah I>wnliarc!<.\ It seems that the great i ranch actress had <|uilc recently played the rolo of the Moorish woman, Zora'vn, m the Californinn capital, and in 'ii "proved her ago Ijv inanv a pathetic expedient since it made physical demands •'■ho could not answer, and called for allurements which she no longer possesses.

I his extract is from a verv (iiiel r-wriltrn article, m tho "Chronicle," in which the cntic, whilst aswrtir:,-; the superior ar! of l.en;lianlt, maintains (hat most people wonM sooner see OW'eil in it, and he, remarks that "if one has imagination, it is latally easy to succumb to Nance 0 Nails spell. Ikr quick-, sinuous, vet .empercd movements, her deep and mournful voice, her rhvthiuie, vet unexp:ccd intonations, her unsmiling intontness, and the tragic vitality with wlucn she infuses every role, o.'croiso an appeal that develops almost into a hypnotic command."

? who has been drawing crowded houses in her native ci'.v, has been landed to tho skies by tho Californian press, and, as Sydney playgoers know, with ample reason; but the English essay-stylo of the above-quoted criticism carries more .weight with it than all the others put together.

Notes. Miss Sybil Arundalo and Sir. Taillcur Andrews (tenor) passed through to Sydney a few days ago, having arrived from r.i'-3iand under engagement to Williamson, Liaise and 3lryn_>ll. They are to nrm.a.r in the production of "The Girl in'iho ■Ij-un on November 4, at the Criterion theatre.

W. W. Jacob's delightful comedv, beauty and the Barge," is to bo revived by Mr. Allan Hamilton in Svdnev this oV ™'l°; 11 r. Charles Brown (i'or so long with bland Holt) will be Cantain Barley, air. Kenneth Brampton will apjxxir as Lieut. Sotou Boyne, Hiss Lillian Lloyd as Lucy Dallas, 31iss Beatrice HolJoway as Ethel Smcdlev, Mr. Herbert bentloy as Herbert Manners, and Mr. Kobert Grcig as .Major Smedley. j rivato advice received from Sydney by Wednesday's mail slates that (he. M'elba brand Opera Company's season became a furore during the last week. Nearly every se.it in tho bi R theatre was engaged for tlio whole wepk, and Ih'.ro was never any cnaiies of getting a seat by leaving i't until the evening. The public of Sydney hscimo obsessed with grand opera,* anil Cisncro's nights" developed into just as !>'g an attraction as Melbn nights. There is no question that an entirely new standard has been created in tlio staring cf ffand op,-,ra :n Australia, and (here, is tulle doubt that the venture will prove a financial as well as an crlislie success.